[atlghosthunter]

           

Hi everyone!  My very first post here after lurking in the shadows for a week while I was hungrily waiting to get my Model 60 2nd. Edition delivered.  Took it out of the box today and I must admit, I was somewhat disappointed.  Don't get me wrong, it's still a neat radio and a project for restoration.  But as I have discovered in times past, eBay photos can be somewhat unrevealing if the light level isn't adequate enough.  Man, I'm gonna have to remember that trick one day for my rougher listings!

Anyway, taking it out of the box a little nervously, as it wasn't really packed as well as I would have expected, I was relieved to note that it seemed to make the trip from northern Indiana to the ATL without further damage.  BUT, the laminate on the top and the sides of the cathedral appears to be almost a total loss.  There is a lot of separation and buckling going on, with some small missing pieces.  I've reviewed an excellent post here on repairs of smaller areas, but after looking at the unit, I just don't think that will do.  Heartbreaking, but fixable.  

It also appears that this radio was the subject of some restoration in the past, but how long ago, I just don't know.  I'm guessing around the 60s or 70s, since the power cord has been replaced with non cloth insulated, but has one of the dumb plugs that is almost square shaped that were so popular in the hardware stores back in the day.  You know, the ones that you fed the two conductors into and then pressed a snap in button that caused the inner teeth to perforate the insulation jacket to get current from the blades?  I just am having a hard time imagining someone resorting to that.  Also, the toner doesn't look quite right as to its shade and the exterior is WAY too glossy, even over the damaged laminate.  I guess it spent some time in a northern garage around lake Michigan after its previous work.  The decal on the front is also gone, and most of the interior factory decals look as if someone attempted to peel them out.  WHY?  

The dial is darkened to a point where it will have to be replaced, and the tuning knob shaft assembly appears to be slightly loose from the chassis.  Which might explain at least partially why the dial doesn't turn as well as it should when the shaft is turned.  The knobs do not appear to be the originals either, and one is missing and another is defective  They aren't full rosette and they aren't hex.  I think that I would call them partial rosette if anything.  According to http://www.tuberadioland.com/philco60B_2nd_main.html, these type knobs were never mentioned but the other two were.  Oh, I think that the speaker grill cloth is not the right one, either.

According to the lister, the radio will turn on but get nothing but static and cannot be tuned.  What a surprise, but I knew that from the listing, so it's okay.  

The inside chassis at first glance appears to be fairly corrosion free unlike many of these neglected ones look, so that may be a plus.   One of my first steps will be replacement of the cord, as its insulation is degraded with a couple of small sections to the rubber jacket missing and to put a proper one on it.  I see a long wire going to a clip in the top center of the chassis, which I assume means that it was used as a ground.  How do these radios do with three prong polarized plugs that are out there?  I'm a home inspector in my day job, in spite of my screen name, and I'm somewhat reluctant to replace it with anything less unless it's just undo-able.  I'm also gonna start looking for someone with a tube tester that I can get readings on the tubes from in the next few days.  After that, I'll get around to the caps, before ever turning it on for testing.  

Any sage advice on these first steps?  I also know a really good furniture guy who's going to help with getting a laminate sheet and the right toner for this baby.  But the cabinet is just gonna have to wait on getting the electronics operational at this stage.

Thanks for reading this very LONG post.  I'll be posting updates as I go along.